toxic shock syndrome
noun Pathology.
a rapidly developing, sometimes fatal infection characterized by sudden onset of fever, gastrointestinal upsets, a sunburnlike rash, and a drop in blood pressure: caused by a Staphylococcus aureus toxin and occurring especially in menstruating women using high-absorbency tampons. Abbreviation: TSS
Origin of toxic shock syndrome
First recorded in 1975–80
Words nearby toxic shock syndrome
toxic masculinity,
toxic megacolon,
toxic nephrosis,
toxic neuritis,
toxic psychosis,
toxic shock syndrome,
toxic tetanus,
toxic waste,
toxicant,
toxication,
toxicity
British Dictionary definitions for toxic shock syndrome
toxic shock syndrome
noun
a potentially fatal condition, characterized by fever, stomachache, a painful rash, and a drop in blood pressure, that is caused by staphylococcal blood poisoning. In women it is most commonly caused by a retained tampon during menstruation
Medical definitions for toxic shock syndrome
toxic shock syndrome
n.
An acute infection characterized by high fever, a sunburnlike rash, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed in severe cases by shock, that is caused by a toxin-producing strain of Staphylococcus aureus, occurring chiefly among young menstruating women who use vaginal tampons.
toxic shock
Scientific definitions for toxic shock syndrome
toxic shock syndrome
[ tŏk′sĭk ]
An acute infection characterized by high fever, a sunburnlike rash, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed in severe cases by shock, that is caused by a toxin-producing strain of the common bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. It occurs chiefly among menstruating women who use tampons.